Synthesis and characterization of fullerene nanowhiskers by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation: influence of C60 solubility.

Fullerene nanowhiskers (FNWs) composed of C(60) fullerene molecules were prepared using the liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation (LLIP) method in the carbon-disulfide (CS(2)) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) system. The electron microscopic images reveal the formation of non-tubular FNWs. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern studies indicate the presence of fcc crystalline structure and unusual triclinic structure in the FNWs. The selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED) analysis demonstrates the existence of triclinic and electron beam assisted fcc to tetragonal crystalline phase transformation. The formation of triclinic structure might be validated due to the partial polymerization of FNWs at C(60) saturated CS(2)-IPA interface. The high solubility of C(60) in CS(2) solvent system results in partial polymerization of FNWs. The polymerization of fullerene molecules in the FNWs has been further confirmed using Raman spectroscopy.